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During a meeting Tuesday evening, Opelousas Police Chief Donald Thompson promised to have more patrol officers on the streets of downtown, but he asked for help from the community, as well, following a string of burglaries.

"We're going to give the best patrol we can," he said to nearly 50 people present at city hall. "I will try my best to make sure it doesn't happen again. I'm here to protect and serve your property as well as your lives."

Some of the business owners who addressed Thompson said they felt exposed to the burglaries after a Oct. 8 spree where seven downtown businesses were robbed.

"We're having to rebuild door frames," said Vera Nagy, owner of Farfallina’s. "I'm spending more money than I'm making. We need these buildings (downtown) filled with businesses. If they are scared to come to our town, our city can't grow."

Thompson said the suspect, Christopher Batiste was arrested in Opelousas a week later and booked on one count of simple burglary. Since then, Thompson said there has been one reported burglary.

Court records indicate Batiste was wanted at the time of the arrest on warrants issued in August by the Ville Platte Police Department on an unrelated burglary and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office for failure to appear for a court date. Bond for Batiste was set Friday at $50,000.

Some business owners asked Thompson what could they do to help the situation and better handle the possible threats.

Capt. Mark Guidry, along with other officers, urged the owners to get surveillance systems and try to implement a neighborhood watch system.

"That's (cameras) the tools we look for as officers to help us out," Guidry said.

Some owners were worried about their safety because most of the businesses, including those involved in the burglaries, are operated by women and they work late hours. Thompson urged the owners to call his department and they will send an officer to escort them to their vehicles.

Thompson said he will increase patrols in the downtown area both at night and during business hours. He said he is about 20 officers short of what he said he needs to sufficiently patrol the city, but he admitted he will increase overtime for his officers if it is needed.

He said the City Marshal’s Office, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office and State Police have also started helping out with patrol duties.

"I will continue to work hard for you to enforce the laws and put those type of people where they belong," he said.

Thompson told the business owners he expects to meet with them again in the next several months.